Villa Vie has the purpose of improving the world as we travel. In that spirit, Andy, Alicia, and I were planning on scuba diving, and while researching possibilities along the way, we had the choice of just diving and diving to make a difference.
Slow DiveCasa Chihuahua was the group we located in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic who were involved in coral restoration.
I promised them that after we went through their course on the plight of coral around the world and the efforts that they and others are making, I would make an effort to help spread the word. They offered to share the slides from their presentation, and I would like to share them with you here and encourage you to get involved wherever you can to help protect and restore this vital part of the world's ecosystem.
We have seen damaged coral and we have seen living coral. The difference is staggering. The life that makes these structures home is not only beautiful to look at, it also is the foundation for much of our sea life and protects our shorelines.
As a challenge to my alma mater, Purdue, I would invite the engineering students there to try to match what Indiana University did here many years ago. It seems that anchors dragging across the coral are responsible for a great deal of preventable damage. IU installed an anchor point that is used as a tie-off for divers in the area of the national underwater reserve. Other attempts have failed to stay in place. I am sure that Purdue University could design and install one or more of these anchor points and teach others how to do the same around the world.
We hope to be able to do more of this kind of public service in the future, as well as support the needs of the local communities as we travel the world.
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